State Patrol, Pierce County deputies conducting emphasis patrols Saturday

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — After a 20-year high number of fatal crashes in Washington last year, troopers and Pierce County deputies will be conducting the second of four emphasis patrols on Saturday.

The patrols, known as high visibility enforcement, or HIVE, aim to reduce the number of serious injury and fatal crashes.

Saturday’s patrol will focus on the area of state Route 7 and state Route 512. There will be more deputies and troopers in the areas during peak collision times.

In 2021, Washington had 602 collisions that resulted in 670 deaths, the highest number of fatality crashes in 20 years, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

So far this year, troopers have investigated 29 fatality collisions in Pierce County.

The patrols are part of a statewide effort during the holiday season. Future patrols in Pierce County will be on Dec. 17 and Dec. 31.

The locations and times of the patrols are determined by collected data.

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